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(No Model.)

G. F. SOUTHAGK.

STRINGING PIANOS. v N0. 279,454. Patented June 12,1883.

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UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GYPRIAN F. soUTHAeK,' OF RATHBONE PLACE, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ASSIGNOR or ONEHALF 'IO WILLIAM DowNIE, or LoNDoN, ENGLAND.

STRINGING PIANOS.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 2'79,454,-dated June 12, 1883.

Application filed March 5, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England January 26, 1883, No. 430.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, OYPRIAN FRANK SOUTH? Ask, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rathbone Place, in the county of Middlesex and Kingdom of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Inr proved Method of and Devices for Stringing and Tuning Piano-Fortes and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for stringing and tuning piano-fortes;

and it consists in certain novel devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan of asection of the same, illustratingstrings of a single note with the tuning lever or tongue removed. Fig. 4 is a plan of a tuning lever or tongue detached. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are, respectively, a side elevation, a plan, anda rear end elevation of a section of another form. of my invention. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the stringpressing tongue or shoe, used in the form of apparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

I provide a metal base-plate, A, Figs. 1, 3,

. 5, and 6, of suitable width and length for the unison-strings of each note, and I fix this baseplate by screws or other convenient attachments to the iron frame or wrest-plank of the piano. Upon said base plate are cast or mounted three upright projections, E, E, and E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, for the purposes hereinafter described. Through the projection E, I pass longitudinally one or more screws, G, Figs. 1, 2, 3,5,6, and 7, eachscrew fitting into a threaded block, F, Figs. 1, 3, 5,

and 6, which block is caused to slide over a part of said base-plate by turning said to the right or left.

sage of the string or strings.

screws In the upper part of each sliding block is a hitch-pin, a, around which one end of the string 0 of the instrument is passed or" looped, the other end being secured to the hitch-pin I) in the usual way. I provide a metal arm or tongue, B, Fig. 1, ofa convenient shape, or I may make the central upright projection, E, of the form shown in Fig. 5, with which to hold the screw D, and mount thereon a tongue, constructed as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, and arranged to be pressed upon the string by the screw D, the two upright wires of said tongue attachment fitting into holes of suitable size in the horizontally-proje'cting arm (l of the upright projection E immediately on each side of the screw'D. One end of said metal arm or tongue B works on a pivgt or fulcrum, C, the other end being bent downward, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to touch the string or strings. The necessary pressure on the string or strings from said arm ortongue is obtained by means of the screw D, Fig. 1, in an upright position, passing through a slot insaid arm or tongue, as shown in Fig. 3, into the upper part of the upright projection E, whiclris threaded to receive it; or, instead of the arm or tongue already described, I may obtain the downward pressure upon the string or strings by means of a straight bar held in position as described, and shown in Fig. l, for the said arm or tongue, and through one end of which I pass a screw with tongue attachment, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8.

The turning of the screw D, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, causes the aforesaid tongue or tongue attachment to press more or less upon the string or strings. The top of the upright projection E being higher than the string or strings, I provide holes therein, as shown by the dotted 0 lines, Figs. 1, 3, 5, and G, 011 a line with the top of the sliding block F to facilitate the pas- The top of the upright projection E, which serves as a bridge for the string or strings, is preferably on a line 5 with the top of the sliding block hereinafter described.

The advantages resulting from the use of my invention are, an equal tension or unison of the strings by means of the screws and sliding block hereinbefore mentioned, and a simultaneous tuning oi. the strings to the required pitch by means of the downward pressure of the tongue. My invention can be applied to any piano, whether with an iron or wooden frame. The strings maybe separate or one continuous string for each note. The instrument will rarely require tuning. The strings are held rigid, and being very short from the bridge to the iastening or pin, there is no liability to what is termed an after tone. The strings for each note, being perfect] y level, re ceive an equal blow from the hammer; The unisons being obtained by means of a screw removes the possibility 011' the strings slackening, as is the case with the old method of wrest pins. The strings forming each note, first be ing brought to perfect unison, can be tuned simultaneously by the tongue or arm actuated by one screw. The iron plate or wrest=plank is not weakened, as is the case when many holes are drilled or bored to receive the wrest-pins. The device can be placed in any position, oblique or otherwise. A bridge need not be cast on the iron plate-0t the instrument. (Many plates are spoil ed throughimperieetions in this mrtimilar.) The making and filing ot' notches to receive. the strings are rendered unnecessary. \Vhere awooden wrcst-plank is used the bridge may be dispensed with, as my invention is provided with a bridge.

By means of my inyention theione ol' the instrument is rendered superior to that of any instrument strung in the ordinary manner. \Vhere an iron. frame is used, the great thick.- ness of wood required for the pins to worm. or screw into is dispensed with, thus affording much more room between the strings and the sounding-board.

I am aware of the patent to C. L. \Vild, granted September F, 1854, and do not claim anything therein contained; but

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. 'In apiano, the combination of a plate, A, for each set of unison-strings, a sliding block, F, hitehpin, a, and adjustingserew G for each string of said set of unison-strings, and a screw-operated tongue, 3, arranged and adapted to press upon all of the strings of said unison set and deflect them, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a piano, the combination of a detachable base-plate for each set of unison-strings, provided with the three uprights E, 'E, and E extending transversely across the same, a sliding block, 11itchpin, and adjusting-screw for each string ol the set, and a single pivoted tongue and a screw for adjusting the same for each set of unisons, all. constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my sigm'lture in presence of. two witnesses. 

